In his book, Hegseth recounts an instance where he directly contradicted military briefings, instructing his platoon to engage and eliminate any perceived threats, disregarding what he deemed as “bullshit rules.” The article highlights Hegseth’s disdain for regulations, as seen in his criticism of rules he felt were arbitrarily enforced, potentially endangering soldiers for the sake of international approval. Hegseth often lauded his commander, Colonel Michael Steele, who later faced reprimand for reportedly issuing orders to eliminate all military-aged males during a raid.
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Senator Rand Paul has accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of either lying about his knowledge of a follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat or being incompetent, due to conflicting public statements. Paul expressed concern that Hegseth may be attempting to shift blame to Admiral Mitch Bradley. Other senators, including Democrats Richard Blumenthal, Mark Kelly, and Jack Reed, have also voiced their concerns. Multiple senators are also calling for accountability for those responsible, with some suggesting that Hegseth should resign or be fired.
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Republicans have largely remained silent regarding Hegseth’s actions, which have resulted in numerous casualties. However, GOP-led committees in both the House and Senate are now focusing their attention on the Pentagon, requesting a thorough investigation into the September boat strikes. Chairmen of the Armed Services committees are demanding access to audio and video recordings of the incident, with the intention of uncovering the facts. Senator Tillis is specifically seeking clarity on whether Hegseth ordered a subsequent strike, which resulted in the death of survivors.
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Congressional scrutiny has increased following reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth verbally ordered the killing of all individuals aboard suspected drug trafficking vessels. These reports stem from a U.S. strike campaign that has resulted in the deaths of at least 83 people. Lawmakers from both parties, including key figures on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, are calling for investigations into the operations, with some expressing concerns over potential violations of domestic and international law. Despite the allegations, Hegseth has dismissed the claims as “fake news,” while former President Trump has voiced confidence in Hegseth.
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House committee seeks ‘full accounting’ of boat strike after WaPo ‘kill everybody’ report, and it’s about time someone demanded it. The revelation that a House committee is launching a probe into the boat strike, following the Washington Post’s report that included the chilling phrase “kill everybody,” is frankly, a bit astonishing. Considering the nature of the allegations – potential violations of the Geneva Conventions and a blatant disregard for human life – a “full accounting” should have been demanded the moment the first report surfaced. It’s almost unbelievable that this only gained traction after the press dropped the bombshell, as if they were hoping the incident would simply fade away.… Continue reading
As surveillance aircraft tracked the boat for an extended period, analysts at command centers grew increasingly certain of illicit activity. The extended observation provided mounting evidence suggesting the individuals on board were involved in drug trafficking. This conclusion was drawn based on the length of time the boat was monitored. The increased confidence of the analysts was a direct result of the prolonged surveillance operation.
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The Trump administration is justifying its boat strikes against drug cartels in the Caribbean as collective self-defense on behalf of US allies, specifically citing cartels’ alleged armed violence against allied security forces and their use of cocaine profits to fund it. This legal analysis, formalized in a classified Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion, allows the use of lethal force under the “law of armed conflict,” circumventing federal murder statutes. However, this rationale sharply contrasts with Trump’s public narrative, which focuses on stopping overdose deaths. Critics have voiced skepticism, as the claim that cartels are primarily using cocaine proceeds to wage war rather than for financial gain lacks public evidence and the OLC did not fully vet.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood